THIS week Welsh National Opera returns to Liverpool with two timeless classics.

La Traviata can be seen at the Empire tonight (Wednesday, November 7) while La Cenerentola is being presented tomorrow (Thursday) at 7.15pm

The most popular and most performed opera in the world, Verdi’s La Traviata is the enduring tragic love story of Parisian courtesan Violetta and her affair with Alfredo, which brings them true love before they are separated by society, disease and destiny. Alfredo who has fallen head over heels in love with the courtesan Violetta, but his father Germont disapproves of the fallen woman. Penniless and fearing she will soon die, Violetta agrees to leave Alfredo believing it is in his best interest. It is only when Germont hears that she is on her deathbed that he realises the error of his ways, and confesses all to Alfredo. But is it too late?

La Cenerentola is Rossini’s retelling of Cinderella but with a few twists along the way. The kind-hearted Angelina (Cinderella) is forced to scrub the floors by her wicked stepfather, while her ugly sisters prepare to go to the Prince’s grand ball at the palace. As she dreams of a better life she is visited by a mysterious old beggar man. He tells her she will go to the ball, and will also be rewarded for her kind heart.